Listing Price: $469,000 This beautifully upgraded spacious home is a smooth blend of contemporary and colonial that will have you smiling. Two levels with hardwood floors throughout feature an open, airy floor plan. Large windows in every room look out to the tree-filled, quiet neighborhood while letting in lots of sunlight.

Front of House

Front Entrance

The first floor offers you a combined living room and dining room area with a large bank of windows looking at a gorgeous red maple tree surrounded by azaleas. This flows into the eat-in kitchen where HGTV-fans might want to knock down the wall, add an island, and create a Great Room. Watch the birds as you wash the dishes or drink your morning cup of coffee. Down the hall you’ll find an updated full bathroom, a pantry, and two good-sized bedrooms. With this much space, go ahead and use one as your dedicated office or library…

Living Room

Dining Area

Living Room Windows

Eat In Kitchen

Kitchen

First Floor Bath

Bedroom 1 - Office

Bedroom 2 - Guest Room

Walk up the stairs to the second floor. The huge master bedroom with very large walk-in closet has its own washer & dryer (no more lugging laundry up & down the stairs!). There’s also a modern bathroom with an oversized stall shower, another large bedroom, and a spacious media room. The layout would easily allow for you to put up another wall and create yet another bedroom while still keeping an upstairs den space.

Bedroom 3 - Master

Bedroom 4 - Guest Room

Upstairs Bath

Master Closet

Media Room

The basement in this home features a renovated legal accessory apartment complete with a permit and its own separate entrance off the patio. Large windows let lots of light into all the rooms. The Great Room features a living room area, dining area with pantry, and kitchen with an island. The bedroom fits a queen-sized bed and has two large closets. Bathroom features a stall shower, and this apartment even comes with its own washer and dryer! A legal apartment is a great space for a family member who is coming to live with you (but not too close!) or for a tenant to help generate a sizable income for you. This is the best basement apartment you’ve ever seen!

There’s something about the name “Tullulah” that attracts us. Maybe it whispers of something sultry and Southern, or perhaps it reminds us of that plucky character Towanda from the movie Fried Green Tomatoes. Whatever it may be, we wanted to eat at The Eatery at Tullulah’s in Bay Shore the minute we were told about its interesting food and affordable BYOB policy.

For each restaurant there’s a key piece of information that someone should be kind enough to tell newcomers. For some restaurants it’s the fact that the establishment engages in BYOB. For others, there are “don’t miss” specialties that you’d be a fool not to order. So we’re happy to share with you a key piece of information for one of Long Island’s finest restaurants, Maroni Cuisine, and it is simply this: Skip Lunch.

We visited Huntington Social for a late-night cocktail in mid-summer when the restaurant first opened up. We were impressed with the new decor, a vast and classy departure from the dark, dank Chesterfields that previously inhabited the space. Whimsical murals of both regal and naughty monkeys let you know as you walk in that Huntington Social aims to show you a good time. Lush red velvet banquettes and large curved booths lend a feeling of cozy elegance, and the long bar with plenty of seating is classic with low amber lighting, making everyone instantly more attractive. This second time we went with dining in mind, and we’re happy to report that the food was attractive as well.

Cafe Havana in Smithtown is my most recent dining adventure. As the Suffolk County correspondent for East of NYC, I knew just where to take my date. This time, however, my date was mom. To see our dining experience first-hand, click on through the jump.

Hidden amongst the 2-for-1 happy hours, freezer-burned fried clams, and pizza joints in Ocean Beach is a gem where delicious, creative food can be enjoyed alongside the lapping waves of the Great South Bay. Eating at The Hideaway will make you joyous that you found (and were admitted to) this “hideout” of epicurean delights.

Medford’s newest eatery, Long Island Ale House, is more than it’s name suggests. Sure, they have over 30 beers on tap featuring many local brews, and they’re sold at an attractive price of just $4 or $5 a pint (plus $1 off that during Happy Hour). And yes, you could come here just to belly up to their long bar or shoot some pool while mingling with old friends or chatting up new ones. But take care not to miss out on what we think is the other star of the show at this place: wonderful, innovative, locally-sourced food that goes well beyond the standard pub grub you might expect.

We’ve had people whispering in our ear for a while to check out Mirabelle Tavern, a casual eatery inside of the Three Village Inn in picturesque Stony Brook. More relaxed in both atmosphere and menu items than its fancier sister, Mirabelle Restaurant, the Tavern offers diners a chance to eat well-prepared French and American comfort food while feeling pampered in a casual setting.

When I came to Aji 53, I didn’t arrive with the intent to review the restaurant; I was actually walking into a blind date. I was pleasantly surprised by Aji 53 as I hadn’t done more to scope out the restaurant other than a quick glance at the website to find the address.